Product Description

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No one should leave church feeling manipulated, controlled, shamed, or condemned. But places of shelter and encouragement can become abusive if spiritual leaders begin to use their authority to meet their needs for importance, power, or spiritual gratification. Here you'll discover how to identify an abusive church and also how to break free from its destructive legalism. Topics covered include:

How spiritual abuse develops--and why those under its grip often don't see it

The subtle ways that leaders and systems "hook" and control believers, robbing them of their joy in Christ

Scriptural help in recognizing healthy spiritual relationships

Effective strategies for escaping abusive situations

Insightful, practical, and solidly grounded in Scripture, this book has what you need to recover a grace-filled relationship with God and His church.

Product Information

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Format: DRM Protected ePubVendor: Bethany HousePublication Date: 2005

ISBN: 9781441202420ISBN-13: 9781441202420

Publisher's Description

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In a breakthrough book first published in 1991, the authors address the dynamics in churches that can ensnare people in legalism, guilt, and begrudging service, keeping them from the grace and joy of God's kingdom.Written for both those who feel abused and those who may be causing it, The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse shows how people get hooked into abusive systems, the impact of controlling leadership on a congregation, and how the abused believer can find rest and recovery.

Author Bio

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David Johnson has been the senior pastor at Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove, Minnesota, since 1980. During this time, the church has grown from a congregation of 160 to 3,000 people. A much sought-after speaker, he is a graduate of Bethel College and received his theological training at Bethel Seminary and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His Growing in Grace radio broadcast is syndicated internationally. David and his family live in Minnesota.

Having suffered at the hands of an abusive church, this book was used of the Lord to bring the much needed healing to my soul! I am so grateful for the authors for sharing their wisdom. I read it in less than a week! I am now sharing it with others who also need this book. God bless both authors!

Firstly, I am a Christian who has been wounded in the church and am in dire need of inner healing. The signs of Spiritual Abuse exist in a few of the churches that I have attended over the years. This book will help you identify the signs of Spritual Abuse and how to properly address them. You must understand that this book is not to bash the leadership of any church or ministry.

I am a leader within my own home church congregation. Due to my own personal experiences with Spiritual Abuse while in a prior leadership role and position, I had to seek for this book and its information in hopes of starting my healing process and journey to recovery.

I can attest to the fact that this book was written as a sole means of providing the believer a way out of a very detrimental spiritual experience that could haunt them for the rest of their life.

If you have been unctioned to read this book, God bless you! Please take into consideration everything that is written. It will help God's healing virtue flow through your soul so that you may return to your original state of knowing and believing who God is, absent of the misrepresentation of God by the spiritual authority that you know.

I was in an abusive church for eleven years. I did not realize it at that time. I tired so hard to please my demanding pastor. He controlled almost every aspect of my life. I felt so barren spiritually. I was an associate pastor. I faithfully served the church for eleven years. I worked 60 hours a week. I served in many capacities. My wife and young children suffered my neglect all in the name of pleasing my pastor. Despite my sacrifices, it was still not good enough. I was called to do more and more. I was on brink of complete breakdown when Lord led me this book. It profoundly changed my life! I am now free and recovering from spiritual abuse. If it was not for this book, I will be still blind and still in an abusive relationship. This book penetrated my erroneous theological training that pastor holds absolute power over my spiritual life. If you are in an spiritually abusive relationship, read this book! Or give it someone who you noticed has a pastor who seem to control many aspects of their life.